Emir BardakçıThe mid-range smartphone market in China is about to see a heated upgrade war in early next year. Based on new details provided by Weibo tipster Digital Chat Station, it is learned that Xiaomi is planning to offer prominent flagship-grade functionalities in their forthcoming REDMI Turbo 5 series, globally POCO X8 series models. The rumor hints at some serious emphasis on performance, battery, and high-end hardware components to make the series a serious player in the January launch market.
Feature-Packed Hardware Enters the Mainstream
The REDMI Turbo 5 lineup will likely feature elements typically found in high-end phones. These will include a 3D ultrasonic fingerprint sensor for enhanced fingerprint scanning speed and accuracy, including when scanning wet fingers. The new product will have a flagship chipset, although its name has not been disclosed yet.
Along with an improvement in performance, there are expectations of a metal body and a glass rear panel. This aligns with Xiaomi’s decision to focus on upper mid-range models and enhance their build quality without adding costs. The smartphone also boasts stereo speakers with symmetrical tuning for better multimedia.
Batteries, Charging, and Image Focus
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Among these, perhaps the most prominent highlight has been offered through the extra-large battery accompanied by 100W fast charging. This could well indicate that Xiaomi has been aiming for consumers looking for a battery life that doesn’t come at the cost of slower charging times. Features like this are now being offered in many Chinese mid-rangers.
In terms of camera technology, it needs to provide a large main camera sensor instead of using several secondary lenses. This design philosophy has proven to be quite good in Xiaomi smartphones in focusing on overall image performance instead of being led by market-promotion of multiple camera lenses. However, for the vibration motor, it will be a standard X-axis motor.
Market Timing and Competition
Going by the timeline of the exposed information, the REDMI Turbo 5 series smartphones are expected to be unveiled before the Spring Festival (17 Feb 2026), probably in the first month of the 2026, which is January. The device will be competing directly with other offerings in the market such as the OnePlus Turbo series, iQOO Z11 Turbo, and the realme Neo8. The three phones are expected to focus on large displays, high capacity batteries, and powerful performance. The phone will be sold as POCO X8 series globally.
As with all former REDMI K and Turbo series devices before it, it’s safe to assume that REDMI Turbo 5 would be exclusive to China, with a global rollout via the POCO X8 series at a later date. It would be interesting to see just what Xiaomi has up its sleeves for its initial 2026 lineup releases.
